Today in Labor History Feb 26 A coal slag heap doubling as a dam collapsed 118 died, 5,000 homeless

February 26


February 26, 1802 - Novelist Victor Hugo was born. "An invasion of armies can be resisted," he said, "but not an idea whose time has come."

Bethlehem Steel workers strike for union recognition, Bethlehem, Penn. - 1941

A coal slag heap doubling as a dam in West Virginia’s Buffalo Creek Valley collapsed, flooding the 17-mile long valley. 118 died, 5,000 were left homeless. The Pittston Coal Co. said it was "an Act of God." - 1972

A 20-week strike by 70,000 Southern California supermarket workers ends, with both sides claiming victory - 2004

Labor history found here: http://www.unionist.com/today-in-labor-history & here: http://www.workdayminnesota.org/index.php?history_9_02_26_2010

nt

"Dennis Prince and some 625 survivors of the flood sued the Pittston Coal Company, seeking $64 million in damages (adjusted for inflation, this equates to over $275 million in 2008 dollars). They settled in June 1974 for $13.5 million, or approximately $13,000 for each individual after legal costs (64 million in 2008 dollars). A second suit was filed by 348 child survivors, who sought $225 million; they settled for $4.8 million in June 1974.

"The state of West Virginia also sued the company for $100 million for disaster and relief damages, but Governor Arch A. Moore, Jr. settled for just $1 million, three days before leaving office in 1977."

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_Creek_Flood

"In 1990, after an extensive federal investigation, Moore (R-of course) pled guilty to five felonies (unrelated to Buffalo Creek -- he was an equal opportunity slimeball -- Staph). He agreed to plead guilty after he was told that federal investigators had taped him conspiring with his former campaign manager, John Leaberry, to obstruct the investigation into his activities. Moore pled guilty to an indictment that said he accepted illegal payments during his 1984 and 1988 election campaigns, extorted more than $573,000 from a Maben Energy Corporation, a coal company based in the town of Beckley, and obstructed the investigation. Moore served two years, eight months in federal prison in Alabama and Kentucky and four months of home confinement at his home in Glen Dale, Marshall County.

"After his guilty plea, Moore tried repeatedly to withdraw it. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit rebuffed his attempts to withdraw his plea in April 1991, and the U.S. Supreme Court refused his arguments in October 1995. As of 2008 Moore continues to maintain his innocence."

from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arch_A._Moore,_Jr.

Arch Moore's daughter, Shelley Moore Capito, is presently the Republican congresswoman from West Virginia's second district. The apple don't fall far from the tree -- she is a slimeball as well!